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State Street Halloween Party

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Coordinates: 43°4′29.4″N 89°23′34″W / 43.074833°N 89.39278°W / 43.074833; -89.39278
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(Redirected from Freakfest)
State Street Halloween Party
State Street Halloween Party, October 2005
StatusInactive
Date(s)Varied by year
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Madison, Wisconsin
Years active1979-2019
Inaugurated1979[1][2]
Most recent2019

The State Street Halloween Party was an annual Halloween festival located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Tens of thousands of party-goers, many dressed in Halloween costumes, attended the event on State Street in the downtown area of Madison.[3] Most attendees were students from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and their guests, but others came from across Wisconsin and elsewhere. The city took control of the event in 2006, renaming it Freakfest and began charging admission. Prior to this, the event saw crowds of up to 100,000 and a plethora of riotous behavior.[4][5]

Freakfest was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7]

In 2022, the event was cancelled due to lack of funding and support.[8] It did not return in 2023.[9] However, State Street, a popular nightlife destination, saw an marked increase in crowds on Halloween weekend, requiring the Madison Police Department to have a larger than normal presence in the area.[10]

History

[edit]

In 1977, a group of UW Madison students started a block party on Halloween night. Due to its growing popularity, the student government began to sponsor the event as a fundraiser in 1979. However, when the legal drinking age changed in 1986, the fundraising ceased as their primary money-making source was gone, leading to the eventual end of student government's sponsorship. From 1989 until the late 1990s, crowd size varied.[11]

By the 2000s, the event's size grew significantly and largely culminated in rioting resulting in vandalism, theft, property damage, arson, and assault; resulting in hundreds of arrests costing the city thousands of dollars.[12] By 2003, the event became a point of contention in local government and was costing the city over $700,000. The cost of additional police, the potential of damage to local businesses, and the protection of the city's reputation prompted the concern of Madison leaders, some of whom suggested canceling the event altogether. In 2005, riot police used tear gas to disperse the riotous crowd of 100,000 and over 400 arrests occurred.[13]

In the summer of 2006, then-Mayor Dave Cieslewicz unveiled the city's plan for the upcoming Halloween events. The plan consisted of blocking off State Street, charging admission from select points of entry, and closing off the street at midnight.[14] As a result, the riotous behavior ceased as the event became a largely peaceful festival.[15]

In 2006, the city government officially named the event Freakfest. The festival included films and live performances by nationally known musical artists with sponsors such as Mountain Dew.[16] Alcohol possession and consumption on the street were prohibited but local bars and restaurants served Freakfest attendees.[17]

Attendance and arrest rates

[edit]
Year Attendance Arrests
2001 60,000 to 120,000[18] 0[19]
2002 65,000[20]
2003 65,000 Fri; 40,000 Sat[21] 350 (180 Fri, 170 Sat)[21]
2004 80,000[22]
2005 100,000[23] 334[24] to 566[25][23]
City government took control of the event
2006 32,000 148[24] to 230[25]
2007 34,000 181 (55 Fri, 126 Sat)[26]
2008 38,000 77
2009 44,000 47[27][28]
2010 35,000 43[29]
2011 25,000 30[30]
2012 35,000 36[31]
2013 31,000 28
2014 35,000 46
2015 37,000 9
2016 32,000 13
2017 19,000[32] 11
2018 20,000[33] 12
2019 20,000[34] 2

*2012-2019 data is tickets sold.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dane 101". Archived from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  2. ^ "Madison's halloween history". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  3. ^ Hart, John (28 October 2018). "Photos: Freakfest 2018". madison.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. ^ Channel 3000 Archived 2009-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ The Daily Page Archived 2011-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Freakfest 2020 Cancelled, Residents Reminded to Avoid Halloween Gatherings". cityofmadison.com. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. ^ Langrehr, Jaymes (17 September 2021). "City of Madison cancels Freakfest for second straight year". channel3000.com. WISC-TV. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  8. ^ Rawling, Gillian (19 September 2022). "Organizers cancel FreakFest for third year in a row". WMTV - NBC15.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  9. ^ Viviani, Nick (5 October 2023). "No FreakFest this year and maybe never again". WMTV. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  10. ^ Derby, Samara (28 October 2023). "Extra Madison police officers will be on duty this weekend for Halloween, night Badgers game". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  11. ^ Brousseau, Alex (28 October 2009). "A history of the Halloween celebration on State Street". Badger Herald. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Throwback photos: See 4 decades of Halloween celebrations on State Street". Wisconsin State Journal. 23 October 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. ^ Krause Hathaway, Wendy (26 October 2011). "History of Halloween at UW-Madison". Wisconsin Alumni Association. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ Channel 3000 Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Rivedal, Karen (28 October 2016). "Different mindset, new tools tame Halloween on State Street". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. ^ "freakfestmadison". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  17. ^ Hardee, Howard (27 October 2019). "They only come out at night: Costumed revelers descend on State Street for Freakfest". madison.com. Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Halloween, Homecoming relatively tame". Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  19. ^ "Criminal activity low on Halloween night - the Daily Cardinal - University of Wisconsin-Madison". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  20. ^ "Police 'will not take sole ownership' for Halloween Riot". Archived from the original on 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  21. ^ a b "Halloween crowds turn chaotic - the Daily Cardinal - University of Wisconsin-Madison". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  22. ^ "Officials revisit Halloween nights". Archived from the original on 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  23. ^ a b http://www.dailycardinal.com/article/17691 [dead link]
  24. ^ a b "Arrests down for 2nd year in a row". Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  25. ^ a b "Success! Far fewer arrests, no pepper spray give city reason to celebrate". Archived from the original on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  26. ^ "One day later: Police itemize Halloween crimes". Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  27. ^ "Wisc-Tv". Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  28. ^ "44,000 attend Freakfest in Madison". Archived from the original on 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  29. ^ "Wisc-Tv". Archived from the original on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  30. ^ "Fewer Arrests at Freakfest This Year". Archived from the original on 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  31. ^ "Freakfest FAQ". Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  32. ^ Rolain, Connor (30 October 2017). "Freakfest Attendance Drops; MPD Reports No Serious Incidents". The Daily Cardinal. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  33. ^ "What to know ahead of "Freakfest" this Saturday". NBC. WMTV. 22 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  34. ^ Devore, Molly (27 October 2019). "20,000 tickets sold for Madison's 2019 Freakfest". Badger Herald. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

43°4′29.4″N 89°23′34″W / 43.074833°N 89.39278°W / 43.074833; -89.39278

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